One team in Glasgow Partick Thistle

Thistle wasted a good afternoon’s work by throwing away two points at Firhill by conceding two goals in the dying moments of the game, one a controversial penalty. The Jags had looked certain to win the game courtesy of goals by Roberts and Chaplain, only for disaster to strike in the closing stages.

With Robertson and Roberts both passed fit to play, the Jags line-up showed just one change from the side that defeated Ayr last weekend, Gary Harkins dropping to the bench with loan signing William Kinniburgh taking his place in defence. Simon Storey made a welcome return from injury with a place on the bench.

St Johnstone were without defender Allan McManus and player-boss Derek McInnes dropped himself so Kevin Rutkiewicz and Martin Hardie returned to the starting line up, while Kenny Deuchar started his last game before returning to Gretna at the end of his loan spell.

On another cold and wet day on a less than perfect surface at Firhill, the game took a while to heat up. There weren’t too many clear chances created in the first half, which was mainly down to some crucial late tackles by Marc Twaddle in the Jags defence as he took a lead role in denying the visitors time and space to create.

At the other end Thistle weren’t causing the visitors many problems and all they had to show for their efforts in the opening 20 minutes was a wayward shot from Kinniburgh and a couple of blocked efforts from Rowson and McKinlay.

Craig Hinchcliffe was the first keeper called into any real action in the 22nd minute when he had to rush from his line to clear the danger, but he pulled up after doing so and with play continuing did well to get back into position to be on hand to save from MacDonald. That was the end of his involvement though, and he limped off to be replaced by Jonny Tuffey.

The sub keeper was immediately called into action when MacDonald again ran onto another ball over the top, but Tuffey was able to make a fairly comfortable stop from his first time shot. The Thistle defence was under pressure again soon afterwards, but first Twaddle then a combination of Archibald and Kinniburgh stood firm with Tuffey eventually scrambling the ball clear.

However, it was Thistle who stepped up the pressure and finished the half the stronger when first of all Liam Buchanan threatened just after the half hour mark, he collected the ball inside the Saints penalty box and when his first attempt was blocked, he pounced on the loose ball and Main had to react quickly to stop his effort on the volley.

Buchanan was involved again a few minutes later and he appeared to be shoved in the back after controlling the ball inside the danger area, but the ref waved play on and the chance was lost. But with six minutes of the half remaining Thistle edged in front when Robertson sent Buchanan down the right wing, he twisted and turned to beat Anderson before sending in a cross that was met by the head of Mark Roberts for his third goal in as many games.

The visitors had a half chance to level the scores right on half time, but Martin Hardie’s attempt at curling a shot into the top corner was well over, so Thistle ended the half in front.

The Jags had to weather some early pressure from St Johnstone at the start of the second half with a defender hooking the ball clear from the head of Rutkiewicz and Tuffey saving Deuchar’s header, but it was Thistle who came closest to adding to the scoring when Rowson’s low drive had to be touched round the post by Main.

With an hour on the clock the Jags twice came close to extending their lead within the space of a minute. Firstly, Buchanan forced his way through the centre of the Saints defence but with only the keeper to beat, he flighted his shot inches wide. An even better chance followed when the Jags immediately won possession and Rowson’s chip had Main well beaten, but it dropped onto the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

A second goal wasn’t long in coming though, and in the 65th minute a long throw in was headed on by Roberts and then hooked across goal by Buchanan for Chaplain who arrived at the back post and headed home despite Main’s efforts to claw it out from under his bar.

Thistle were now firmly in control of the game, and although St Johnstone pushed forward in search of way back into it, and despite Thistle being forced to make a couple of changes, they were struggling to put any real pressure on Tuffey who only had a couple of long range efforts from Hardie and Sheerin to deal with.

Alan Archibald denied sub Stevie Milne with a fine last ditch challenge and the visitors then threatened at a corner due to sheer weight of numbers inside the area causing problems, but with time running out it looked as if Thistle were not only going to win, but keep a clean sheet.

However, St Johnstone were handed a lifeline in the 90th minute when Kinniburgh and McKinlay struggled to deal with a ball that dropped awkwardly between them, there had already been a shout for handball and then as McKinlay dived in to knock it clear at the second attempt, referee Willie Collum blew his whistle and pointed to the spot judging him to have fouled Milne in the process.

Paul Sheerin ignored the complaints of the Jags players to calmly slot home the penalty, and when Thistle gave the ball away cheaply from the restart, panic ensued when Saints launched the ball forward and with Tuffey rooted to his line, Deuchar nipped in front of a defender to head the ball home and level the scores.

The shell-shocked Jags players launched the ball forward from the restart but it came to nothing and as the final whistle sounded, the referee was the focus of attention from both the players and fans and he left the field to a chorus of boos.

The point maintained Thistle’s recent unbeaten run, but the manner of it made it feel like a defeat. It was a good and defensively solid performance from Thistle today, and with Buchanan in good form up front; a win would have been well deserved. However, St Johnstone must take credit for plugging away, and although the referee is rightly the centre of attention, there was no excuse for the way Thistle collapsed and practically gifted Saints their last minute equaliser.

Man of the match: Liam Buchanan